Trifonic: Editing Beats – Part 2

30 Dec

Brian continues his discussion on drum programming in this video. He demonstrates Trifonic’s method for time-stretching to create special effects and glitchy awesomeness.

Make sure to check out Part 1 if you haven’t already.

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  • http://Marcelmaynard.com Marcel Maynard

    I love it, I hope this site really takes off. I’m already telling my music buddies about it. Great job, and thank you for making this!

  • LT

    Thanks, appreciate you spreading the word! Let us know if there are particular topics, questions, etc. you’re especially interested in, and we’ll try to cover them.

    LT

  • hello6470

    Thanks for the video and for the music. I've first heard the trifonic music in hybrid – soundsystem album, the track called Parks on Fire and it blew my mind.

  • hello6470

    Thanks for the video and for the music. I've first heard the trifonic music in hybrid – soundsystem album, the track called Parks on Fire and it blew my mind.

  • morphido

    Really AMAZING!!!
    Thanks a lot for this video, thanks for this blog and your special intention to share new methods and technics for get the sound/music to the -nextstep-.
    Emergence: incredible album. My deepest congratulations!

  • morphido

    Really AMAZING!!!
    Thanks a lot for this video, thanks for this blog and your special intention to share new methods and technics for get the sound/music to the -nextstep-.
    Emergence: incredible album. My deepest congratulations!

  • Lixx

    Great job guys, thank you for doing this!

  • Lixx

    Great job guys, thank you for doing this!

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks!

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks!

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Very happy to hear that you're enjoying Emergence, thanks for the kind words. Please let us know if there are particular production topics/questions you want us to cover here… we'll do our best. :)

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Very happy to hear that you're enjoying Emergence, thanks for the kind words. Please let us know if there are particular production topics/questions you want us to cover here… we'll do our best. :)

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks, any particular areas you'd like to see covered? Let us know!

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks, any particular areas you'd like to see covered? Let us know!

  • Sam

    Awesome!!!
    I can finally stop sitting on my hands..
    Great first post hope to see a lot more

  • Sam

    Awesome!!!
    I can finally stop sitting on my hands..
    Great first post hope to see a lot more

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks!

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks!

  • r0bin

    “You know what? Let's put a reverb on it. Why not?” -LOL

  • r0bin

    “You know what? Let's put a reverb on it. Why not?” -LOL

  • orket

    awesome man, keep them coming, they're great.

  • orket

    awesome man, keep them coming, they're great.

  • sclr

    some bass tuts. awesome break goodies! thanks guys.

  • sclr

    some bass tuts. awesome break goodies! thanks guys.

  • http://www.keyofgrey.com/ Sean

    Just watched the first tutorial before this, and this one is great too. I was wondering if you might cover determining the BPM for a song. I'm using Logic 8 and I find that it's not accurate when I'm trying to find the tempo for full songs…works fine when I'm working with loops though. Thanks, and keep these tutorials coming…they're just what I was looking for!

  • http://www.keyofgrey.com/ Sean

    Just watched the first tutorial before this, and this one is great too. I was wondering if you might cover determining the BPM for a song. I'm using Logic 8 and I find that it's not accurate when I'm trying to find the tempo for full songs…works fine when I'm working with loops though. Thanks, and keep these tutorials coming…they're just what I was looking for!

  • John G

    Thanks for the tutorials! They are well done: not too fast, not too slow -just right!

    As a suggestion perhaps? I love the technique tutorials as much as the next person, but I find there aren't so many tutorials about the creative process. Sometimes when I am in “plug-in hell” the techniques seem to get in the way. Some example questions I might have:

    -how do you know when you are done?
    -how closely should I follow a genre?
    -how recognizable should the genre be for the listener?
    -how do I create more space in my mixes?
    -etc.

    Just some thoughts. Thanks again!

  • John G

    Thanks for the tutorials! They are well done: not too fast, not too slow -just right!

    As a suggestion perhaps? I love the technique tutorials as much as the next person, but I find there aren't so many tutorials about the creative process. Sometimes when I am in “plug-in hell” the techniques seem to get in the way. Some example questions I might have:

    -how do you know when you are done?
    -how closely should I follow a genre?
    -how recognizable should the genre be for the listener?
    -how do I create more space in my mixes?
    -etc.

    Just some thoughts. Thanks again!

  • blueoxygen

    This is amazing! These stutters are so fun to build and you explained it so well, thanks for the pointers :)

  • blueoxygen

    This is amazing! These stutters are so fun to build and you explained it so well, thanks for the pointers :)

  • OBLiiK

    i would totally dig crazy filtered, glitched bass tutorials to go along with these drum edits. thanks for the vids…awesome!!!

  • OBLiiK

    i would totally dig crazy filtered, glitched bass tutorials to go along with these drum edits. thanks for the vids…awesome!!!

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks guys, bass tutorials are definitely in the works!

  • http://www.trifonic.com LT

    Thanks guys, bass tutorials are definitely in the works!

  • Craig

    you are a fantastic teacher; the process is clear, and I also appreciate your explanations of your own preferences and how they relate to the various plug ins and sounds that you choose–thanks so much for these.

  • Craig

    you are a fantastic teacher; the process is clear, and I also appreciate your explanations of your own preferences and how they relate to the various plug ins and sounds that you choose–thanks so much for these.

  • briantrifon

    Hey Sean, the best way to determine the bpm for a song is to cut out and crop a 2 or 4 measure section and then use the “adjust tempo using region length and locators” or the shortcut 'Command + T.' It is easiest to calculate the tempo on a section of the song that has a very clear rhythmic pulse. This is fairly simple to do with electronic music, pop and most current genres. However if it is music that was not recorded to a click or has lots of tempo changes you might have to explore more beat mapping/tempo mapping options.

  • briantrifon

    Hey Sean, the best way to determine the bpm for a song is to cut out and crop a 2 or 4 measure section and then use the “adjust tempo using region length and locators” or the shortcut 'Command + T.' It is easiest to calculate the tempo on a section of the song that has a very clear rhythmic pulse. This is fairly simple to do with electronic music, pop and most current genres. However if it is music that was not recorded to a click or has lots of tempo changes you might have to explore more beat mapping/tempo mapping options.

  • briantrifon

    Thanks John! Great ideas. I will do some videos discussing the creative process and I'll make sure touch on some of the subjects you've suggested.

  • briantrifon

    Thanks John! Great ideas. I will do some videos discussing the creative process and I'll make sure touch on some of the subjects you've suggested.

  • briantrifon

    Thanks Craig! Glad you are enjoying the videos :)

  • briantrifon

    Thanks Craig! Glad you are enjoying the videos :)

  • AudibleNinja

    Great tutorial! Doing this stuff by hand in a vertical tracking environment is a lot of fun, I used to love to do this sort of chopping in Acid.
    Check a video I made a while ago relevant for FLStudio users:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLD-aGH02k
    Keep up the good work! Subscrib'd!

  • AudibleNinja

    Great tutorial! Doing this stuff by hand in a vertical tracking environment is a lot of fun, I used to love to do this sort of chopping in Acid.
    Check a video I made a while ago relevant for FLStudio users:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSLD-aGH02k
    Keep up the good work! Subscrib'd!

  • http://www.keyofgrey.com/ Sean

    Awesome! Thanks for the tip!

  • http://www.keyofgrey.com/ Sean

    Awesome! Thanks for the tip!

  • Estapop

    Good stuff!

    I just got Logic Express 9, and I'm just beginning to figure it out, but here's a potentially useful tip: The new Flex Time feature makes it even easier to stretch regions without waiting for the computer to process it so frequently.

    I've also got a request: I'd like to learn more about how to use Logic's built in vocoder synth, and I would welcome a Trifonic tutorial.

  • Estapop

    Good stuff!

    I just got Logic Express 9, and I'm just beginning to figure it out, but here's a potentially useful tip: The new Flex Time feature makes it even easier to stretch regions without waiting for the computer to process it so frequently.

    I've also got a request: I'd like to learn more about how to use Logic's built in vocoder synth, and I would welcome a Trifonic tutorial.

  • Tonebreaker // DJ^3

    Fantastic Work! I have always wondered about the different methods for doing sliding timed cuts. I have attempted to get the effect using NI Spektral Delay but am always open to additional methods. Topics that I would love to see are:

    1. Hand Sequencing Drums from One-Shots to build your own loops.
    2. Vocal Processing (Doubling / Stereo Expansion / Etc – A'la the work you did on 'Lies'.)
    3. Mixing and Mastering

    Again, keep up the great work. Ya'll have quickly become one of my favorite producers not only because of the quality of your music but your contributions to the edm community.

    Cheers

  • Tonebreaker // DJ^3

    Fantastic Work! I have always wondered about the different methods for doing sliding timed cuts. I have attempted to get the effect using NI Spektral Delay but am always open to additional methods. Topics that I would love to see are:

    1. Hand Sequencing Drums from One-Shots to build your own loops.
    2. Vocal Processing (Doubling / Stereo Expansion / Etc – A'la the work you did on 'Lies'.)
    3. Mixing and Mastering

    Again, keep up the great work. Ya'll have quickly become one of my favorite producers not only because of the quality of your music but your contributions to the edm community.

    Cheers

  • bumler

    thnx for sharing!
    Nice to see how you push logic to the limits.
    very inspiring!

  • bumler

    thnx for sharing!
    Nice to see how you push logic to the limits.
    very inspiring!

  • Beldragim

    Nice tricks! I can't wait for more :)

  • Beldragim

    Nice tricks! I can't wait for more :)

  • Bronto Scorpio

    Very great tutorials! I would like to see a bassline tutorial too. I really like the bassline in your track “parks on fire”!

  • Bronto Scorpio

    Very great tutorials! I would like to see a bassline tutorial too. I really like the bassline in your track “parks on fire”!

  • http://twitter.com/bolig seth ferris

    i really appreciate that these tutorials focus on manual design rather than relying on automation to glitch out the beats for you. it allows you think about how you would want to design your beats from the ground up and thus allows you to use plug ins more effectively later. i also appreciate the use of amen break despite its familiarity. using that break demystifies the work you are doing since we have all heard it so many times and its clear how you are manipulating it. thanks for sharing your techniques, further proof that if you're creative and confident sharing your methods isn't scary at all!

  • http://twitter.com/bolig seth ferris

    i really appreciate that these tutorials focus on manual design rather than relying on automation to glitch out the beats for you. it allows you think about how you would want to design your beats from the ground up and thus allows you to use plug ins more effectively later. i also appreciate the use of amen break despite its familiarity. using that break demystifies the work you are doing since we have all heard it so many times and its clear how you are manipulating it. thanks for sharing your techniques, further proof that if you're creative and confident sharing your methods isn't scary at all!

  • gigazaga

    Love your no-nonsense approach! These techniques would work in pretty much any DAW.

  • gigazaga

    Love your no-nonsense approach! These techniques would work in pretty much any DAW.

  • http://www.ramp-music.net/ Irfon-Kim Ahmad

    Fantastic tutorials. Most of this is stuff I've done myself before, but the videos are worth it for the time-saving shortcuts alone! You have no idea how much of this stuff I'd do manually piece by piece without having thought to select a pile of regions (for gating, for example), or did with just the mouse and didn't realize the keyboard shortcuts that would make life easier. (I don't know if I've *ever* pressed Option in Logic before, for example, and to make slices I was setting the time division value and moving forward by divisions then hitting the cut key. Eek!)

    Anyway, thanks a lot, and this was great stuff.

    Also, as people have pointed out, it's nice to see that the simple techniques scale to the massive sound that you folks achieve. It makes it seem so much more accessible!

  • Maize

    Fantastic tutorials. Most of this is stuff I've done myself before, but the videos are worth it for the time-saving shortcuts alone! You have no idea how much of this stuff I'd do manually piece by piece without having thought to select a pile of regions (for gating, for example), or did with just the mouse and didn't realize the keyboard shortcuts that would make life easier. (I don't know if I've *ever* pressed Option in Logic before, for example, and to make slices I was setting the time division value and moving forward by divisions then hitting the cut key. Eek!)

    Anyway, thanks a lot, and this was great stuff.

    Also, as people have pointed out, it's nice to see that the simple techniques scale to the massive sound that you folks achieve. It makes it seem so much more accessible!

  • David Hollingshead

    Kind of takes away from the mystery of it but it's cool to see how they do it.

  • David Hollingshead

    Kind of takes away from the mystery of it but it's cool to see how they do it.

  • briantrifon

    Cool! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the topic suggestions, I'll keep them in mind.

  • briantrifon

    Cool! I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for the topic suggestions, I'll keep them in mind.

  • briantrifon

    Thanks! I'm planning to show a lot of things in Logic, but also some techniques in Ableton Live and possibly Pro Tools as well. Each tool has its strengths and quirks so we end up using a few different daw's in the studio

  • briantrifon

    Thanks! I'm planning to show a lot of things in Logic, but also some techniques in Ableton Live and possibly Pro Tools as well. Each tool has its strengths and quirks so we end up using a few different daw's in the studio

  • briantrifon

    Thanks Seth! I think understanding the manual way to do things also helps you extract better results from the available automated tools as well. We use NI Reaktor, and other automated programs to do some of the tweaky sounds in conjunction with the manual chop/copy methods, but even the Reaktor generated edits often get manually chopped/processed so that they fit better in the context. Bottom line it is good to know all the various methods of executing a technique….. “because knowing is half the battle” :)

  • briantrifon

    Thanks Seth! I think understanding the manual way to do things also helps you extract better results from the available automated tools as well. We use NI Reaktor, and other automated programs to do some of the tweaky sounds in conjunction with the manual chop/copy methods, but even the Reaktor generated edits often get manually chopped/processed so that they fit better in the context. Bottom line it is good to know all the various methods of executing a technique….. “because knowing is half the battle” :)

  • briantrifon

    cool! That is the plan. I don't want to be overly DAW focused…I'm trying to keep things concept oriented, and over time I'll show some things in Ableton Live and possibly others as well.

  • briantrifon

    cool! That is the plan. I don't want to be overly DAW focused…I'm trying to keep things concept oriented, and over time I'll show some things in Ableton Live and possibly others as well.

  • briantrifon

    Thanks for the comment. Fortunately the majority of cool sounds and techniques are based on simple ideas and concepts. The hard part is getting everything to work together, express emotion and musically create something meaningful :)

  • briantrifon

    Thanks for the comment. Fortunately the majority of cool sounds and techniques are based on simple ideas and concepts. The hard part is getting everything to work together, express emotion and musically create something meaningful :)

  • http://fahrgeschaeft.com/ Laurent

    Yes I agree with everyone above … Great way to present things!

    Just 3 questions regarding the cut-up process.

    - What you do in the first cutting part is really to set every hit to a strict beat division ?
    - In the sampler window have you set the “snap edits to zero crossing” ?
    - and you don't use fade ins/outs even one the longer regions ? Is this because the tempo is too fast ?

    L.

  • http://fahrgeschaeft.com/ Laurent

    Yes I agree with everyone above … Great way to present things!

    Just 3 questions regarding the cut-up process.

    - What you do in the first cutting part is really to set every hit to a strict beat division ?
    - In the sampler window have you set the “snap edits to zero crossing” ?
    - and you don't use fade ins/outs even one the longer regions ? Is this because the tempo is too fast ?

    L.

  • briantrifon

    Yeah I cut the loop at the strict beat division and then adjust the start point of each region … that puts the correct start point right on the beat division. Definitely turn off “snap edits to zero crossing” in the sample editor. I don't use fade outs unless I hear a click and it bothers me. If I don't hear a click or if the click sounds good I don't do a fade out. There usually isn't a need for a fade in, because in the case of percussion sounds, the transient is very punchy anyway and if it clicks it often brings out the transient even more. It depends on the material though.

  • briantrifon

    Yeah I cut the loop at the strict beat division and then adjust the start point of each region … that puts the correct start point right on the beat division. Definitely turn off “snap edits to zero crossing” in the sample editor. I don't use fade outs unless I hear a click and it bothers me. If I don't hear a click or if the click sounds good I don't do a fade out. There usually isn't a need for a fade in, because in the case of percussion sounds, the transient is very punchy anyway and if it clicks it often brings out the transient even more. It depends on the material though.

  • monkdream

    Hello Brain.

    Thanks a lot for your answers. This helps a lot!

    It's exactly like Peter Kirn writes on his blogs when posting about your site :”Part of what makes this tutorial compelling is that the duo has a distinctive musical identity, rather than being the anonymous, all-knowing voice music tech instructors had tried to be in the past”

    I really hope you keep on posting here.

    L.

  • monkdream

    Hello Brian.

    Thanks a lot for your answers. This helps a lot!

    It's exactly like Peter Kirn writes on his blogs when posting about your site :”Part of what makes this tutorial compelling is that the duo has a distinctive musical identity, rather than being the anonymous, all-knowing voice music tech instructors had tried to be in the past”

    I really hope you keep on posting here.

    L.

  • http://twitter.com/Morphido Morphido

    All is being VERY interesting! Really! Only adding any idea, I would like to know any technic or inspirational factor for your acoustic parts, that guitars are beautiful!
    Trifonic and Emergence is becoming my best example of modern electronic music experience! :)

    Cheers,
    morphido

  • http://twitter.com/Morphido Morphido

    All is being VERY interesting! Really! Only adding any idea, I would like to know any technic or inspirational factor for your acoustic parts, that guitars are beautiful!
    Trifonic and Emergence is becoming my best example of modern electronic music experience! :)

    Cheers,
    morphido